FinTech 200

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FinTech 200

May 29, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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“The most important role of technology is to create time.

Information technology epitomizes this role.

And wealth creation is ultimately about time,

freeing human time from labor.”

— George Gilder

L’italiano Luca Pacioli, riconosciuto come “Il padre della contabilità e della contabilità” è stato il primo a pubblicare un’opera sulla partita doppia, e ha introdotto il campo in Italia.

 

“Hatred of the rich is the

beginning of all wisdom” 

— H.L. Mencken

 

Today we break down the literature that informs the finances of the real assets of education settlements.   We examine a few publicly available university annual budget documents and, lately, have been looking ahead at innovation in distributed ledger solutions, digital currencies and blue sky conceptions of a circular economy which has captured the imagination of trendsniffers in every nation.

Since our 2016 estimate of $300 billion — triangulated from several private and public databases; the number that measures construction spend coupled with operations and maintenance — a fair estimate of growth is likely closer to  $500 billion now.  Based upon the US Census Bureau monthly construction spend reports we have seen a slight uptick in construction spend. We still see construction activity running at an $85-$90 billion clip.

Ædificare & Utilization

Tax-Free Bonds

Schenkingen

During 2024-2025 we will be breaking down this subject into manageable segments as interest in it clarifies.  For now it is enlightening to approach finance standards with an examination of a few operating budgets:

University of Michigan Budget Book 2024

Harvard University Budget Overview: September 2023

University of Minnesota 2022 Final Capital Budget Requests with Governor’s Recommendations

The 2022-2023 Budget: Overview of the Governor’s Higher Education Budget Proposals (California)

Prince George County Public Schools Operating Budget 2022 

University of Illinois Deferred Maintenance 

Central Michigan University Capital & Deferred Maintenance Budgets

Every dollar passing through the business or academic side of the education industry has rules for how it is received and tracked.*   At the moment we track, but do not dwell, on the grant management standards asserted by state and federal funding agencies.  When we do, we place them on the agenda of the appropriate colloquium.

Appropriate use of public funding underlies some — but not all — of the accounting burden of the education industry. We steer clear of the grant management requirements public funding agencies place upon the education industry; maintain focus on the titles developed and published by organizations that have a due process platform.  For example:

Accredited Standards Committee X9

Financial Industry Standards: Program of Work

Preparing for the Quantum Era

Open-IX Association

Data Center OIX-2 Certification

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

X12 Incorporated

There are several trackworthy non-ANSI accredited standard developing organizations:

Sustainability Accounting Standards Board

FASB/GASB

Public Consultation of Implementation (This statement fairly compares with ANSI’s Due Process Guidance.   Comments due January 20, 2023)

Real Estate Information Standards Board

Kuznets curve

 

Send bella@standardsmichigan.com an email for a detailed advance agenda.  To join the colloquium today use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

“De armen en het geld” 1882 Vincent van Gogh

Schenkingen


More:

Opinion AGB: What Do Our Accreditors, Auditors, and Bond Raters Do for Us?

Community FY22 Appropriations Request Letterdocx

PFN_InfraInvLtr_June 2021

Letter-Tax-Provisions-American-Jobs-Families-Plans-061421

Half the people working in schools aren’t classroom teachers—so what?

CLICK ON IMAGE FOR DOWNLOAD


Syllabus: Fintech 100

*Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

A Blockchain-based decentralised university

May 29, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
,
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Blockchain is a decentralized, immutable, and transparent digital ledger that securely records and verifies transactions across multiple computers or nodes. It operates through a network of participants who collectively validate and store each transaction, creating a chain of interconnected blocks. Each block contains a unique cryptographic hash that links it to the previous block, ensuring data integrity.

The distributed nature of blockchain eliminates the need for intermediaries, increases security, and fosters trust among participants. It has applications beyond cryptocurrencies, enabling efficient and reliable solutions in various industries such as finance, supply chain management, healthcare, education and accreditation.

John Domingue | TEDxOpenUniversity:

“I believe that with blockchain technology we can create a radically new type of university: a DAO University. A DAO is a Decentralised Autonomous Organisation which operates with no central control and no humans in the loop and are based on Smart Contracts: pieces of computer code on a blockchain which can represent and enact financial and legal contracts. ”

 

 

Miguel de Cervantes (Don Quixote): “Ladran Sancho, señal que cabalgamos”  

Let the dogs bark Sancho, it is a sign that we’re moving forward.”

Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technologies

Accreditation 200

On Democracies and Death Cults

May 29, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Redivivus

May 28, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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Today we pick through the literature for best practice in recycling enterprises in education communities.  We have been keeping pace with the evolution of regulations in this domain for over 15 years now.  Much like the security zietgeist the number of organizations involved in standards setting and conformance will likely surprise you.  It is a cross cutting topic with a growing body of expert agencies claiming some part of the domain.

We will also pick through a few representative legislative proposals.   Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.

Art Wall from Recycled Materials 2017 Barbara Rucci

Cloud based smart recycling bin for waste classification

Research on recycling of industrial waste

Smart Recycling Machine to collect the wasted Non-woven Fabric Face Mask

Curriculum for Effective Recycling

Readings / Evaluating Water-Damaged Electrical Equipment


*May 10, 2021

We have been keeping pace with the evolution of regulations in this domain for over 15 years now.  Hydra-like growth in policy think tanks and standards-developing organizations expanding into this domain will likely surprise you.  For example, in no particular order:

College and University Recycling Association

NSF International Joint Committee on Environmental Leadership Standard for Servers

Sustainability Leadership for Photovoltaic Modules

Reconditioned Electrical Equipment

Sustainable Electronics Recycling International

Environmental Protection Agency: Land, Waste, and Cleanup Topics

As in other domains, the private standards system competes with government “influencers” and incumbent proxies who make markets through legislation.

Specific requirements must be met for recycling to be economically feasible and environmentally effective. These include an adequate source of recyclates, a system to extract those recyclates from the waste stream, a nearby factory capable of reprocessing the recyclates, and a potential demand for the recycled products. These last two requirements are often overlooked—without both an industrial market for production using the collected materials and a consumer market for the manufactured goods, recycling is incomplete and in fact only “collection”.

Electronic Equipment Recycling

May 28, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com

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The Impact of E-Waste / Student Art Guide

We are observers in the development of a new ANSI accredited electronic equipment recycling standard  produced with the leadership of NSF International; a Michigan-based standards developer (founded at the University of Michigan) not far from our own offices and one of the largest in the world. 

The electronic recycling space is growing quickly — reaching far upstream the value chain into how electronic equipment is designed in the first place.  An overview of the project is available in the link below:

Joint Committee on Environmental Leadership Standard for Servers

A public edition is linked below:

NSF/ANSI 426 – 2019 Environmental Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility Assessment of Servers

This standard moved swiftly to market under NSF International’s continuous maintenance process.  We bring it to the attention of the education facilities industry as a recommendation for lowering #TotalCostofOwnership.   Participation as a User interest in American national standards development reduces “wheel reinvention” in which many recycling workgroups unnecessarily start from scratch, eliminates the need to attend costly workshops hosted by trade associations and significantly minimizes destructive competition.  

This title is on the standing agenda of our Redivivus colloquium.   Since our interest lies primarily with electrotechnology we collaborate with the IEEE Standards Association.  See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting; open to everyone.

 

Issue: [14-74], [15-147], [15-148]

Category: Electrical, Telecommunications, Interior 

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Jim Harvey, Richard Robben

Archive / NSF 426 Electronic Equipment Recycling

 

 

Campus District Energy

May 27, 2025
mike@standardsmichigan.com
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University of California Merced Power Plant*

District energy plants for campuses are more easily modified over time than built from scratch due to their centralized, modular design and existing infrastructure. These systems, supplying heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings, are designed with scalability in mind.  District energy plants for campuses are more easily modified over time than built from scratch due to their centralized, modular design and existing infrastructure. These systems, supplying heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings, are designed with scalability in mind. 

 

Today at the usual hour we examine the status of best practice literature and prepare responses to relevant public consultations.  Use the login credentials at the upper right of our home page.  
The following list cites key codes, standards, recommended practices, and guidelines applicable to campus district energy systems, which provide heating, cooling, and sometimes power to multiple buildings. These are widely recognized in the United States and often internationally, ensuring safety, efficiency, and environmental compliance.
  • ASHRAE Standard 90.1 – Energy Standard for Sites and Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
    • Description: Establishes minimum requirements for energy-efficient design of buildings, including district energy systems for heating and cooling, covering system efficiency, controls, and insulation.
    • Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet energy performance benchmarks and optimize thermal distribution.
  • ASME B31.1 – Power Piping
    • Description: Governs the design, construction, and maintenance of piping systems for steam, hot water, and other fluids used in district heating systems.
    • Relevance: Applies to high-pressure steam and hot water piping in campus district energy systems.
  • NFPA 54/ANSI Z223.1 – National Fuel Gas Code
    • Description: Provides safety requirements for the installation and operation of fuel gas piping systems, appliances, and venting for gas-fired equipment in district energy plants.
    • Relevance: Ensures safe operation of gas-fired boilers or cogeneration systems in campus energy facilities.
  • ASHRAE Guideline 0 – The Commissioning Process
    • Description: Outlines a systematic process for commissioning building systems, including district energy systems, to ensure they meet design intent and operational requirements.
    • Relevance: Critical for verifying that campus heating, cooling, and power systems perform as designed.
  • International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)
    • Description: Sets energy efficiency requirements for building systems, including district energy systems connected to buildings, focusing on reducing energy waste.
    • Relevance: Guides energy-efficient design and operation of campus-wide heating and cooling networks.
  • NFPA 85 – Boiler and Combustion Systems Hazards Code
    • Description: Provides safety standards for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of boilers and combustion systems used in district energy plants.
    • Relevance: Ensures safe operation of large boilers in campus central plants.
  • ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC), Section I
    • Description: Governs the design, fabrication, and inspection of boilers used in district energy systems.
    • Relevance: Ensures structural integrity and safety of high-pressure boilers in campus energy systems.
  • ASHRAE Standard 188 – Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems
    • Description: Provides guidelines for managing Legionella risk in water systems, including cooling towers and hot water systems in district energy setups.
    • Relevance: Critical for maintaining water quality and preventing health risks in campus cooling and heating systems.
  • API Recommended Practice 2000 – Venting Atmospheric and Low-Pressure Storage Tanks
    • Description: Offers guidelines for the safe venting of storage tanks used for fuel or other liquids in district energy systems.
    • Relevance: Applies to fuel storage for backup generators or boilers in campus energy plants.
  • EPA’s Clean Air Act Regulations (40 CFR Part 60 and 63)
    • Description: Regulates emissions from boilers, engines, and other combustion equipment in district energy systems to ensure compliance with air quality standards.
    • Relevance: Ensures campus energy systems meet federal environmental requirements for emissions control.
Additional Notes:
  • Jurisdiction-Specific Codes: Local building codes, such as those based on the International Building Code (IBC) or state-specific amendments, may apply and should be verified for campus projects.
  • Sustainability Guidelines: Guidelines like LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or ASHRAE’s Building Decarbonization resources may be relevant for campuses pursuing sustainability goals.
  • Verification: Consult local authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) and campus-specific requirements, as codes may vary by region or institution.

Rewind: District Energy

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